Garden and Hearth> Hearth/Home>House-Cleaning

I think most will agree that though we love a clean house, we don't want to spend every waking minute keeping it that way.  With a small amount of forethought and organization it isn't necessary to become a slave to your cleaning routine.  Reclaim your precious time with these simple daily routines.

To Each Room Its Own Day

How fun is a day off if you have to spend it cleaning every room in the house?  By the time it has had a week's worth of living, it can be quite overwhelming.  I know by the time I get to the last room, it gets no more than a quick once over.

Keep up with the quick pick ups but save the heavy scrubbing for that special day. Assign each room a day and then spend the half hour scrubbing it from top to bottom. With this sort of deep cleaning the work load never gets overwhelming and the half hour spent seems well worth it on Saturday when you can truly take a day off.

Wash the Dishes as They Come 

Never allow the dishes to pile up throughout the day.  By the time supper is ready to be prepared it is almost impossible to face that kitchen knowing that you are only going to add more dishes to the pile. 

At breakfast take the few cereal bowls, cups and forks and make the time to do them.  Taking the few minutes will save your aching feet at the end of the day.

Get Into the Habit of Wiping Out the Shower Immediately

It takes only a moment to wipe the sides down with the washcloth.  Keep a cup beside the tub and when the tub has drained fill it a few times with clean water to splash down the sides.  It works like a charm and this two minute chore saves a half hour of scrub time on cleaning day.

Buy a Cleaning Product Caddy

Stop making wasted return trips to the supply cabinet for the forgotten paper towels.  Have it right on hand in one easy to carry, organized tote.  A simple carry all with a handle that will hold all your cleaning supplies makes it easier to bring everything with you as you go from room to room cleaning. 

Less is More

Put away all the trinkets and home accessories cluttering your coffee tables. The more you have, the more difficult it becomes to keep a room clean.  Pick two or three pieces that best accent the room and make you feel good.

Make the rule that whenever something new is purchased, it must take the place of something else. This will help to keep clutter under control and will also help to prioritize purchases.

Less clutter makes a room feel bigger and is a must for people with dust allergies.

-Jenna Remilard
Staff Editor

Jenna Remilard writes between homeschooling her two children and caring for her household tucked away in the backwoods of rural New England .